Too Cool for School, Successful Futures: The 10 Worst Dropout Cities
- Posted by: Patrick James
- on October 29, 2009 at 11:01 am
Here’s a tough statistic: According to The Daily Beast, 15 percent of schools produce more than 50 percent of all high school dropouts. The statement accompanies this gallery of the 10 cities with the worst dropout rates in the country. They are, in reverse order, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Fresno, California; Chatanooga, Tennessee; Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, South Carolina; Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida; Riverside-San Bernadino-Ontario, California; Stockton, California; Augusta-Richmond County, South Carolina; McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas; and, finally, Bakersfield, California. From The DB:
Roughly 16 percent of the Bakersfield population over 18 does not have a high-school diploma. Using the same population threshold, the Bakersfield area also ranked fifth lowest in the nation for median individual annual earnings, with $24,228 earned yearly by workers there.
You’ll notice that some of the other cities listed are actually metropolitan areas that include multiple cities. I don’t know if that should make them feel a little bit better or far, far worse. Regardless, it seems abundantly clear that we’ve got a lot of work to do in California.
Photo (cc) by Flickr user nickchapman.
DISCUSSION: 4 Comments
haha, you said fresno.
At least Bakersfield can claim it’s number 1 at something?
Stockton and Fresno are facing a huge default rate on mortgages, ag issues, and this too… There is a vaccum being created here…. what is next for the central valley?
Wow, its scary that nearly half of those are in California alone. I’m hopeful though, I work for a company who’s educational curriculum is working school more relevant in 5 of the 10 areas listed (California + Texas). It’s only about a year old and we are getting amazing feed back from the student experiencing the program. It’s called The Roadtrip Nation Experience. (roadtripnation.com and roadtripnation.org to check it out) Sorry for the shameless plug, I couldn’t resist sharing. I grew up in the central Valley (California) and have seen and experienced first hand the lack of opportunity (mainly perceived, most the students need a little more guidance and support) and direction these kids face.